Tue, 15 Aug 2017 21:09:19 -0700WeeblyTue, 01 Aug 2017 20:30:03 GMThttp://www.dvworkshops.com/dvworkshops-blog/dvworkshops-runs-2-week-documentary-course-for-the-first-peoples-of-barrow-alaska-inuitInstructor Aron Ranen just finished working with the Inuit people at the"Top of the World", helping them craft documentaries about their community. Subjects ranged from Climate Changes effect on their Village, to the story of a great local whaler who was killed when a giant whale dragged his boat under water. Most students had no experience, and by the end they were proficient at both Production and storytelling using Apple Final Cut Pro X.​

Barrow, Alaska. 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle. 24 hour daylight when course was being taught

]]>Tue, 11 Jul 2017 19:34:57 GMThttp://www.dvworkshops.com/dvworkshops-blog/video-production-gear-we-loveFor a Key Light, the Kino Celeb 201 rises above the rest. Best LED light on the market, Ability to dial in exact Color temperature, dimmer and pre-sets. Comes with hard case for travel.

For an on-camera light, we suggest the Manfrotto Croma2 LED Light. Attached to the top of your camera for "Run and Gun" video production or news. It can also be used as a "hair" light in a 3-point lighting set-up (using a horseshoe adapter). The Light is "Bi-color" switchable between 3200K-5600K, and the volume of light can also be controlled

]]>Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:04:53 GMThttp://www.dvworkshops.com/dvworkshops-blog/tips-for-editing-vr-360-videoDid you know that Final Cut Pro X can edit VR 360 video? Thats right, you can just import it right in to the program (except for the new Samsung VR camera, which is PC only).

Once in Final Cut Pro, you may need this plug in, 360VR Toolbox from Dashwood Cinema. It allows you to view the video in 360 as your editing (in a small viewer that you can place anywhere on top of the interface). The suite from Dashwood also contains a plug-in that allows you place a starting point/perspective for the viewer at the start of your VR Scenes. This helps orient the viewer to begin exploring your world. Watch the below video for more info on editing VR 360 with FCPX

Click above images to check out an inexpensive audio adapter (allows you to use XLR professional microphones with your iPhone), and Video Stabilizers for handheld iPhone shooting.

Below is Filmic Pro, the best App for your iPhone. It allows you to manually control focus and exposure, shoot up to 4K, and 50mbps at 1080 (similar to high end broadcast news cameras). It's a $10 purchase at the App store. Now available for both Android and iPhones. Click below for more info.

]]>Tue, 31 May 2016 18:37:43 GMThttp://www.dvworkshops.com/dvworkshops-blog/covering-trump-campaignon The Campaign Trail as a Videojournalist

If you like being charged by cops on horses with batons, rocks the size of grapefruit thrown at you,, then covering the Trump Rally is for you! I wanted to share some photos from recent coverage of the Trump Campaign as it rolled thru Southern California.

Working for the Associated Press, I used a Liveu broadcast unit to "go live" for 6 hours non-stop covering the Trump visit to San Diego, California. My footage was used by the BBC, CBS, FOX and more. One website that streamed the AP live feed had 30,000 viewers watching.

It always get's scary the last hour of any protest where there are massive amounts of Police Force. The police fired Pepper Spray "bullets" at the press and protestors, and continuously charged at us shouting "move-back ", even though it was a mostly peaceful crowd.

Here are some tips if you are covering large protests with big police actions.

1- Don't Leave until the very last person has been arrested. The Most dramatic images come as the cops chase down and arrest folks after they declare an "Unlawful Assembly", this arrest footage is key to the coverage, and usually occurs in the final hour.

2-Use a Monopod. It allows you to raise the camera above the action, so you are not stuck filming people's backs.

3-Make sure you have a valid Press Press. It's the difference between being arrested or allowed to film.

4-Move around, follow the CNN crew and Still Photogs you trust, they know where the action is.

5-If you have access to a helmet and light weight goggles and gas mask, bring them for the final moments. ( Pepper spray in your mouth and eyes is not fun. I had a rock the size of a grapefruit land just 5 feet away from me, and it came from behind).

6- Run away if you need to get away from Gas, spray or aggressive cops. ( I had to twice, and the folks at AP HQ said they thought it was funny when they would see shots of my feet as I was running away from the Pepper Spray Bullets...HA, ha , ha.)